Malta Balance of Trade

Last Release

Apr 30, 2025

Actual

-401,256

Units In

EUR Thousand

-247,665

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Jul 10, 2025

Time to Release

29 Days 10 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
301,100 Sep 2024	-878,623 Jul 2022	-152,556.5 EUR Thousand	1996-2025	N/A

Malta enjoys a favorable geographic position and large deposits of limestone, which contribute to the strength its export sector. As an island, Malta produces only around 20% of its food necessities, has limited access to fresh water and lacks energy sources. Due to this mix of factors, the economy of Malta is very dependent on foreign trade. Malta mostly exports electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, fish and crustaceans, pharmaceutical producuts and printed material. On the other hand, Malta is a net importer of mineral fuels and oils, non-electrical machinery, aircraft and other transport equipment, plastic and other semi-manufactured goods, food, drink and tobacco. Malta adopted the Euro in 2008, highlighting the status of the European Union as its most important trading partner, having vast trade flows specifically with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

Latest Updates

Malta’s trade deficit widened to EUR 401.3 million in April 2025 from EUR 364.2 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. This marked the largest trade shortfall since August last year, as imports rose while exports dropped. Year-on-year, imports advanced by 1.4% to EUR 721 million, mainly attributed to higher purchase of industrial supplies (14.3%) and fuels & lubricants (10.8%). Meanwhile, exports declined by 7.7% to a two-year low of EUR 319.7 million, dragged down by lower shipments of capital goods and others (-21.7%), consumer goods (-12.9%), and industrial supplies (-6.4%). Considering the first four months of the year, the country’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR 1,193.7 million from EUR 1,227.3 million in the same period a year earlier.